“Checkpoint-friendly bags“ ease security checks

18 August 2008

Since Saturday 16 August, at least some travellers to the US would have been happy not having to pull out their laptops from their cases during screening.

The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is allowing passengers carrying what they call ''checkpoint-friendly bags'' to pass freely through airport security checks, without having to take their laptops out of the bags.

The move follows a TSA announcement that it was seeking bag designs that comply with their specifications, to which around 60 manufacturers responded with around 40 prototypes.

TSA's requirement for the checkpoint friendly bags is quite simple:

It must have a designated laptop-only section.

The laptop-only section must completely unfold to lay flat on the X-ray conveyor belt.